Psalm 139

Read Psalm 139

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me!” David was impressed with the extent of God's great knowledge. The Lord understood all about him—even his thoughts were not hidden from the Almighty. He found this all very overwhelming, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

There was no way for David to hide from God. Even if he made his way to heaven or if he found himself in Sheol, the land of the dead, the Lord would find him. In these other spiritual realms, the Lord was still there. If the king went to the most remote corner of the earth, God would still be involved in his life. “Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

As David considered his own life, he meditated on his existence prior to birth. It was God who had created him. “You knitted me together in my mother's womb.” Prior to his first breath, the Lord had already planned all of the days of David's life—not just the number of them, but all the details of the events that would fill those days.

“How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” David was captivated by the glory of the Lord. Who could conceive of the mind of God? The man willing to rest in the Lord and to trust Him in His goodness could take great comfort in the fact that God would never be surprised by some new fact. The Lord already knew. Therefore all His children could sleep soundly.

Yet the Lord and His servants had powerful enemies. David longed for the fulfillment of the purposes of the Almighty. He hoped for God's perfect judgment so that evil people would be exposed and utterly defeated. “Oh that You would slay the wicked, O God!”

David invited the Lord to expose some secret error within his soul. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me.” He surrendered himself entirely to the true King of kings.

How amazing that the Lord in whom David believed would one day be his descendant! Jesus, the long-expected Son of David, was also the Messianic Son of God. Now we know the Name of the One who knows us so intimately. We too can trust in David's Lord. We have come to believe that our eternity is very secure in Him. Jesus is leading us “in the way everlasting.”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Great Lord, You know us. You created us. Our days were planned by You before we began any of them. You are everywhere and You know everything. What a wonderful love You have for Your people! You have helped us in countless ways, even when we have been utterly unaware of Your presence and goodness. May we bless Your Name forever. Please protect us day by day and deliver us from this evil age at the appointed hour. When we have accomplished the purposes that You have for Your servants here, lead us home again to You.